This bright Memorial Day morning, dog and I were alone on the deer trails for the first three quarters of our hike. Just us and the birds (and a rock squirrel) until other human started trickling up the sides of the sun-splashed foothills.
Of the good selection of species I spied, the funnest was a Brewer’s Sparrow. Only with the week did I hear my first Brewer’s Sparrow song, and it was pretty grand—then today’s bird decided to perform something of a symphony. A long collection of trills on different pitches and with varied lengths and flourishes.
My favorite part of the day, bird-wise. Then again, as a by-hear birder, I do love me some birdsong.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7 a.m. (8 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting
2. Black-headed Grosbeak
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. American Robin*
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Warbling Vireo
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Mourning Dove
10. Mallard
11. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
12. House Finch**
13. Chipping Sparrow
14. Black-billed Magpie*
15. Black-capped Chickadee
16. Pine Siskin (v)
17. Virginia’s Warbler
18. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
19. Brewer’s Sparrow
20. Song Sparrow* (v)
21. Turkey Vulture
22. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Elsewhere
23. California Quail
24. European Starling
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chckadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, Brewer’s sparrow, California quail, chipping sparrow, European starling, house finch, lazuli bunting, lsser goldinch, mallard, mourning dove, pine siskin, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, Virginia’s warbler, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub-ay
